The Pope's message was directed to to the bishop Bruno Feilletand dated October 1, the memorial of the saint of Alençon. "Being the first couple to be canonized," the Pope wrote, referring to the parents of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, "this event is of special importance because it highlights marriage as a path to holiness."
"Among the vocations to which God calls men and women, marriage is one of the noblest and highest," the Pontiff continues. "Louis and Celia understood that they could sanctify themselves not in spite of marriage, but through, in and by marriage, and that their marriage was to be considered the starting point of a joint ascension" (Card. Martins, Beatification Homily)".
"The Holy Couple of Alençon is, therefore," Pope Leo adds, "a luminous and enthusiastic model for generous souls who have undertaken this path, or who plan to do so, with the sincere desire to lead a beautiful and good life under the Lord's gaze, both in joy and in trial.
"In married life."
On the occasion of this anniversary, Pope Leo XIV spiritually joined the faithful gathered in the city where the Martin spouses "achieved holiness in their married life", collect Vatican News. At AlençonCelia and Luis met, married and lovingly welcomed their nine children. Five of their daughters became religious, and among them was St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the youngest, proclaimed patroness of the missions by Pius XI in 1927.
The Pope stresses that they never "withdrew from the world" in their journey of holiness. Louis and Celia were "saints next door," in the expression of Pope Francis. Leo XIV invites the Church to present this "exemplary" marriage to young people who hesitate to embark on "such a beautiful adventure," because of their mutual fidelity, their fervor and perseverance in the faith, and the way they educated their children and lived charity and social justice.
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